City Hall
McGinn to Roll Out Walk, Bike, Ride Initiative Tuesday
Update: The mayor's office, whose only previous response to our questions about Walk, Bike, Ride was yesterday's statement, reported this morning, that "We haven't announced anything like that," called us back today to tell us we "had the story wrong."
Although we asked spokesman Mark Matassa what facts in our story were wrong, as well as whether the Streets for All Facebook page to which we linked was inaccurate, he would not clarify any further, saying only that the mayor's office would announce something if and when they decide to have an announcement.
We've changed the story to reflect the fact that Streets For All is seeking $30 million from the city. Matassa would not say whether McGinn supported spending $30 million on Walk, Bike, Ride.
Original story:
Mayor Mike McGinn plans to announce a "Walk, Bike, Ride" initiative to promote walking, biking, and transit next Tuesday. The rollout will be held at 2 pm Tuesday afternoon, at 16th Ave South and South Lander Street, according to Streets for All Seattle's Facebook page.
Proponents are seeking $30 million for the initiative. It's unclear how McGinn plans to proceed (Matassa, again, would not say whether McGinn planned to propose any new taxes, fees, or other revenue sources), or how another tax proposal, if that's what he plans to propose, will square up with several other new taxes he has already proposed, including a bond measure for the seawall replacement and a potential in-city light-rail taxing measure.
McGinn's staff has briefed council members on the proposal---kind of. Council sources say McGinn's staffers haven't put anything on paper or narrowed down specifics of the initiative (not surprising, given the current tension between the mayor and the council over transportation), but that they have mentioned a menu of possible funding mechanisms. Those that could be passed without voter approval include an increase in the commercial parking tax, a $20 fee on vehicle licenses (the maximum possible without going to the voters), and higher parking fees or extended parking hours. Any other tax increase would require a ballot measure, which is also reportedly a possibility.
McGinn will also reportedly announce next week that, as part of "Walk, Bike, Ride," he will hold four community meetings in different parts of the city, do "instant polling" of citizens, and put out a request for proposals for teams to come up with a Transit Master Plan for the city.
Although we asked spokesman Mark Matassa what facts in our story were wrong, as well as whether the Streets for All Facebook page to which we linked was inaccurate, he would not clarify any further, saying only that the mayor's office would announce something if and when they decide to have an announcement.
We've changed the story to reflect the fact that Streets For All is seeking $30 million from the city. Matassa would not say whether McGinn supported spending $30 million on Walk, Bike, Ride.
Original story:
Mayor Mike McGinn plans to announce a "Walk, Bike, Ride" initiative to promote walking, biking, and transit next Tuesday. The rollout will be held at 2 pm Tuesday afternoon, at 16th Ave South and South Lander Street, according to Streets for All Seattle's Facebook page.
Proponents are seeking $30 million for the initiative. It's unclear how McGinn plans to proceed (Matassa, again, would not say whether McGinn planned to propose any new taxes, fees, or other revenue sources), or how another tax proposal, if that's what he plans to propose, will square up with several other new taxes he has already proposed, including a bond measure for the seawall replacement and a potential in-city light-rail taxing measure.
McGinn's staff has briefed council members on the proposal---kind of. Council sources say McGinn's staffers haven't put anything on paper or narrowed down specifics of the initiative (not surprising, given the current tension between the mayor and the council over transportation), but that they have mentioned a menu of possible funding mechanisms. Those that could be passed without voter approval include an increase in the commercial parking tax, a $20 fee on vehicle licenses (the maximum possible without going to the voters), and higher parking fees or extended parking hours. Any other tax increase would require a ballot measure, which is also reportedly a possibility.
McGinn will also reportedly announce next week that, as part of "Walk, Bike, Ride," he will hold four community meetings in different parts of the city, do "instant polling" of citizens, and put out a request for proposals for teams to come up with a Transit Master Plan for the city.
